[GoldandBlack.com https://purdue.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=25033 Roster] Last update: August 16, 2016 A Purdue Boilermaker football team loaded with experience (8 senior starters on defense) entered 2003 with high expectations (#18 preseason ranking), but they suffered a stunning opening day 27-26 upset loss to the MAC's Bowling Green Falcons.

Purdue WR Taylor Stubblefield had 16 catches for 139 yards and caught his first-ever regular season touchdown in defeat, but had an unfortunate drop on the final drive that could have set up a game-tying FG attempt.

Late in the close game with Purdue clinging to a 16–10 lead, the Deacons created an opportunity for victory by forcing a turnover on a punt return by Anthony Chambers.

Purdue's senior-led defense continually pressured freshman QB Brady Quinn in his first college start with many knockdowns, and intercepted him 4 times (FS Stuart Schweigert had 2 picks).

The Boilermakers struck on their first drive with QB Kyle Orton's 36-yard touchdown pass to Ray Williams on a missed coverage assignment, then they turned LB Niko Koutouvides' interception into a FG for a 10–0 first quarter lead.

Quinn's third interception early in the 4th quarter was turned into a goal-line touchdown pass from Orton to DE Shaun Phillips, who lined up at TE on the play to provide the final 23–10 margin.

Terrific protection by Nick Hardwick and the rest of the offensive line helped sophomore RB Jerod Void gain 119 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns.

But Sophomore RB Brandon Jones was terrific in relief, physically pounding the young PSU defense with 149 yards on 29 carries, and scoring 2 goal-line touchdowns.

In a Big Ten classic hosted by ESPN College Football Gameday, the Boilermakers became bowl-eligible for the seventh year in a row under Joe Tiller by prevailing over #14 Wisconsin, which had ended Ohio State's 19-game winning streak the previous week.

In victory, the Purdue defense continued its terrific 2003 season by sacking Badger QBs 9 times (Shaun Phillips had 4.5), yielding only 12 first downs and less than 300 yards of offense, and forcing 2 turnovers (including an interception by senior CB Jacques Reeves on Wisconsin's first play).

Purdue's 6 game winning streak came to a decisive end in Ann Arbor, dropping to 6–2 against the supremely talented and eventual Big Ten champion #13 Michigan Wolverines.

Despite being dominated, Purdue had a chance to seize momentum late in the first half when the Boilers recovered a fumble from a Shaun Phillips sack of Michigan QB John Navarre.

QB Kyle Orton quickly moved the Purdue offense to a first and goal, but then threw an end zone interception to CB Leon Hall, the first of 2 picks for the freshman playing for an injured Marlin Jackson.

The Michigan offense had a solid (but not dominant) day against the stout Purdue defense, as senior RB Chris Perry grinded out 95 yards on 28 carries.

The Boilermakers returned home and to their winning formula of ball control running, play-action passing and turnover-producing defense to bounce back from the nightmare in Ann Arbor, defeating the solid Northwestern Wildcats 34-14 to improve to 7-2 and stay in the hunt for a share of the Big Ten title.

Boilermaker sophomore RB Jerod Void had his best game of the season to date with 34 carries for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns against the NCAA top 10 ranked Iowa run defense.

For the 8th time in 10 games, the Boilers took their opening drive for a score, as Void took advantage of terrific blocking by his offensive line and junior FB Jon Goldsberry for 22 and 9-yard runs, the latter going for a touchdown.

On another drive a Chandler touchdown pass to WR Mo Brown was called back by penalty, and then the Hawkeyes came up empty when kicker Nate Kaeding missed his first FG of the year.

On the opening drive of the 2nd half, Purdue started with a kickoff return to midfield, and then converted a 3rd and 5 situation with QB Kyle Orton's 45-yard touchdown pass to WR Anthony Chambers for a 20–0 lead.

Notwithstanding the late rally, Purdue's defense had another fine performance, as it held terrific Iowa RB Fred Russell to 35 yards rushing on 18 carries, and sacked Chandler 4 times.

The Buckeyes slowly gained an edge in field position for the rest of the half, as they turned a short drive into a 52-yard Nugent FG to send the teams into the locker room tied at 6.

Starting with a third down conversion pass to Anthony Chambers, Orton moved the Purdue offense over the next 5 plays to the OSU 11-yard line and then capped the impressive game-tying 92-yard drive with a well-executed Statue of Liberty touchdown run by RB Jerod Void.

Purdue later added a Ben Jones FG, and then ran out the rest of the clock with the help of RB Jerod Void's best game of the season (31 carries, 141 yards).

First, as was not typical in 2003, the Purdue defense – which was playing without seniors Jacques Reeves and Gilbert Gardner – got picked apart for the better part of the first half, as Georgia rolled up 24 points and almost 300 yards of offense led by the effective passing of QB David Greene to a talented receiving corps (that included WR Reggie Brown and TE Ben Watson).

Making matters worse, Boilers starting QB Kyle Orton dislocated the thumb on his throwing hand on a David Pollack sack, removing him from the game as Purdue fell further behind.

Early in the fourth quarter, Orton completed passes on 4 consecutive plays to WR Taylor Stubblefield to move Purdue 60 yards to a first and goal situation.

After an exchange of punts, Purdue started a drive with just over 2 minutes left with a terrific 60-yard pass from Orton to WR John Standeford, and then finished it with an Anthony Chambers touchdown catch to make the score 27–24.